, 2034 NW 56th St., Ballard: Not only do they make their ice cream and sorbet from scratch, but same goes for their brownies, cones, peanut butter cups, butter toffee and sauces. Nectarines and cream sounds like a juicy summer treat. It also offers a range of vegan sorbets.

, 1316 E. Pike St., Capitol Hill: Old School rolls out fresh flavors of the day and works its custard into milkshakes, floats and custard pies, or as a "concrete," like a Blizzard. Pints are available at local Metropolitan Markets.

, 1400 Third Ave., Downtown: Every day's selection is different at Gelatiamo, where they make more than 80 flavors, but only feature 16 rotating varieties each day. Their berries come from the Skagit Valley. They also make gelato cakes.

, located inside of Pike Place Market at 1500 Pike Place, Suite 16, Downtown: Shy Giant Frozen Yogurt serves up chocolate and vanilla frozen yogurt, in addition to a vegan variety, as well as black licorice ice cream and other rotating flavors. It bills itself as one of Seattle's first frozen yogurt shops.

, U-District and downtown: Din Tai Fung is a full dumpling house where you can get dinner, but its shaved ice with toppings comes recommended. There's also a location in Bellevue or, if you feel like a quick jaunt, a few in Los Angeles.

, Wallingford and Fremont: Fainting Goat is another place where the day's 18 offerings change depending on season and mood. Flavors range from sour cherry, creme brulee and honey lavender to seasonal favorites such as St. Patrick's Day Guinness, fall pumpkin spice and Valentine's day blackberry-merlot.

, 4721 California Ave. SW, West Seattle: This place has been making its own ice cream for more than 75 years, so you gotta trust it's good. Its flavors include unique varieties such as blackberry cheesecake, rum truffle, Swiss chocolate orange and coffee oreo. Our day producer here at the P-I says the coconut ice cream is "the bomb."

, various locations in Ballard, Columbia City, U-District and White Center: Ice cream, pinball, beer, local art - what else could one possibly want? Next task is to figure out how to play pinball while holding your two-scoop cone. Full Tilt scoops can also be found at places like Chuck's Hop Shop.

, various locations in Ballard, Columbia City, U-District and White Center: Ice cream, pinball, beer, local art - what else could one possibly want? Next task is to figure out how to play pinball while

, 1100 Fourth Ave., Downtown: Choose from 26 gelato and sorbetto flavors, or get a sampler of five. Or grab a gelato pop (pictured) or cake. From July 31 to Aug. 3, Vovito is selling two-scoop waffle cones for $4. One location in Bellevue, too.

, mobile and new popshop at 6564 5th Ave S. in Georgetown: What sounds better than a blueberry lemonade ice pop on a hot day? I implore you. These ice pops use local ingredients like Theo Chocolate and are dairy-free. They can also be found in local markets.

, mobile: Then there are traditional ice cream sandwiches, but way better than the stuff in the 7-Eleven ice box. This family business crafts handmade confections like espresso-chocolate shortbread with white coffee ice cream and salted oatmeal cookie enclosing a scoop of coconut ice cream. Find these treats at local markets, retail stores and independent movie theaters. They also do catering and special events.

, mobile: And then there's the place where you can customize your own ice cream sandwich. Match some citrus poppy cookies with vanilla ice cream or berry ice cream. Or change the cookie to orange snickerdoodle! But don't let the power go to your head. Follow the truck here.

multiple locations, Phinney Ridge, Fremont and Capitol Hill, and a mobile cart: Want some ice cream with that beer? Seems like an unlikely combination, but Bluebird pushes the boundaries by offering up pitchers of their own brewed beer along with your ice cream, or a scoop in your suds for a grown-up float. They're meant to go together here.

For the uninitiated, Salt and Straw is a Portland-based ice cream wonder that attracts block-long lines of people drooling for its unique flavors. Launched in 2011, it has since expanded to Los Angeles and will soon set up shop in San Francisco. Now it's our turn to get in on the fun.

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Of course, our storefront will open up in Capitol Hill, on the corner of Pike Street and Boylston Avenue, according to Vermillion. Owners and cousins Tyler and Kim Malek say the Seattle shop should be ready by the end of summer.

Tyler is from Snohomish and Kim has worked at Starbucks' corporate office and Cupcake Royale, Vermillion wrote.

They plan to stock favorite Salt and Straw flavors, as well as some varieties unique to Seattle.